The concepts of the “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” are found throughout the Bible, but what exactly do they mean? At first glance, they may seem like the same thing, but there are some key differences. This 9000 word article will delve into the biblical teachings about these two kingdoms to understand what sets each one apart. Defining the Kingdom of God The kingdom of God is one of the central themes in Scripture. It refers to God’s sovereign rule and authority over all of creation. The kingdom of God encompasses everything under Christ’s lordship. The Old Testament…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
The organic church, also known as the simple church or house church, is a way of “doing church” that emphasizes relational discipleship in small gatherings, rather than highly structured programs or events. The term “organic” refers to this approach being centered around spiritual life and growth happening naturally within community, not dependent on rigid forms or programs. At its core, the organic church sees church not as an event, place or institution, but as the people of God community centered around Jesus. The focus is on building healthy relationships and living out the Christian life together in a natural, family-like…
The saying “there is nothing new under the sun” comes from Ecclesiastes 1:9, which states “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” This phrase points to the repetitive nature of human existence and history. Let’s explore in detail what this means and what the Bible has to say about this topic. All human endeavors are fleeting Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon later in his life. After experiencing many worldly pleasures and achievements, Solomon concluded that human efforts are futile because nothing lasts…
Dispensationalism is a theological framework for understanding the overall story of the Bible. It sees biblical history divided into different periods or “dispensations” where God relates to human beings in different ways under different biblical covenants. The dispensations are usually defined as Innocence (Genesis 1:28), Conscience (Genesis 3:23), Human Government (Genesis 8:15), Promise (Genesis 12:1), Law (Exodus 19:1), Grace (Acts 2:1), and the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4). Dispensationalists believe the Bible should be interpreted literally and that God has had different purposes and plans for his people under these different covenants. Dispensationalism was first popularized by John Nelson Darby in…
The Chaldeans were an ancient people who inhabited the southern region of Babylonia in Mesopotamia. They emerged as a distinct ethnic group around the 9th century BC and eventually established the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 626 BC under the leadership of Nabopolassar. The Chaldeans rose to prominence in the ancient Near East due to their skills in astronomy, astrology, mathematics, and divination. The Bible contains numerous references to the Chaldeans, portraying them as a powerful nation that conquered and exiled the people of Judah. The Hebrew term for the Chaldeans found in the Bible is Kaśdim. They are first mentioned in…
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory and political movement that originated in the United States in 2017. The core belief of QAnon followers is that former President Donald Trump is fighting a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping pedophiles in government, business, and media. This secret group, referred to as “The Cabal”, allegedly controls world events and aims to establish a New World Order that removes US sovereignty. According to QAnon, Trump was recruited by top military generals to run for president and battle against The Cabal. The conspiracy theory is based on anonymous posts from someone claiming to have Q-level…
Ishmael is an important figure in the Bible, being the firstborn son of Abraham through his wife’s servant Hagar. Here is a comprehensive overview of Ishmael’s story and significance in 9000 words: Ishmael’s Birth The story of Ishmael begins in Genesis 16. At this point in the biblical narrative, God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son. However, Sarah struggled with infertility and had not yet conceived a child (Genesis 16:1). Seeking to obtain an heir for Abraham, Sarah gave her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abraham as a wife (Genesis 16:2-3). Abraham slept with Hagar, and she conceived a son…
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. In our grief, we may desperately want to communicate with them – to tell them we love them, that we miss them, or that we wish we had more time together. This deep desire to connect can lead people to ask if God can deliver a message to someone who has passed away. The Bible does not specifically address asking God to pass along messages to the dead. However, we can gain some insight from what Scripture does reveal about life after death and God’s omniscience. God knows our hearts The Bible tells…
To be a servant of Christ means to completely surrender one’s life to following and obeying Jesus Christ. A true servant of Christ has made Jesus the Lord and Master of their life and seeks to live in accordance to His teachings and example. This requires dying to self and living for God’s purposes instead of one’s own. Some key aspects of being a servant of Christ include: Obeying Christ’s Commands A servant seeks to obey Christ’s commands found in the Bible. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Some of Jesus’ key commands include loving…
Who was Joanna in the Bible? Joanna was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Though little is known about her, the Bible reveals some key details about her life and character: 1. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, who was a steward in King Herod’s court (Luke 8:3). As the wife of a royal official, Joanna herself likely held a position of wealth and influence. Yet she left all this behind to follow Jesus. 2. Joanna financially supported Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:3). Along with other women, she contributed her own resources to provide for…